When you're newly married, settling into your dream home can take a few years of hard work. Such was the case for this couple, whose decision to stay in a former tailoring shop (owned by the husband's parents) was an easy, practical choice. However, they found the space a bit too plain and gloomy to be called home.

Enter designer Kristine Neri. In barely two weeks, she breathed life and light into the bedroom. Though Kristine didn’t tear down the walls and create actual windows, she managed to come up with clever solutions to the couple’s problem area.

Browse through the gallery to see how Kristine worked on the makeover—and find out how she dealt with its lack of proper windows!

(First published in the June 2010 issue of Real Living, Real Makeover section as "Let the Light In;" photos by Miguel Nacianceno; pictorial direction by Issa Villar; production by Tisha Alvarez Angluben; adapted for use in Female Network)